Repository:
Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Los Angeles, California 90007-4057

Abstract: The collection consists of some 150 letters from various persons to Francisca Sepulveda de Carrillo (between 1845 and the
1890s), personal correspondence of Thomas Dillingham Mott and family (chiefly Ascension Sepulveda de Mott and Georgia Mott
de Van der Leck).

Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian

Access

Research is by appointment only

Publication Rights

Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder

Preferred Citation

Sepulveda/Mott Collection. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Biography/Administrative History

Francisca and Ascension Sepulveda were sisters. Their father, Jose Antonio Andres Sepulveda (1803-1875) was landowner to
a large swath of Los Angeles County, including parts of today’s Orange County. They were descendants of the prominent Spanish
Mexican Sepúlveda family in the early days of Alta California in present day Southern California.
Thomas Dillingham Mott (July 30, 1829 -February 19, 1904) married Ascension Sepulveda. He was the son of John Rogers Mott
and Abigail Hathaway Dillingham. His brother was Stephen Hathaway Mott.
Maria Ascension “Chonita” Jacinta Sepulveda (February 15, 1844–December 1923) was the daughter of Jose Antonio Andres Sepulveda
and Maria Francisca De Paula Avila. She was the mother of Georgiana Francisca Mott, Thomas Dillingham Mott II and three other
children (total number of children was eleven, but only five reached maturity.)
Henry Van Der Leck – Son of Lorenzo Leck. Married Georgiana Mott.
Raho, Padre (Father) Blas – Blas Raho, C.M. (1806-1862) In 1856, he “was named pastor of Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles.
He began at once to redecorate the church. Once commentator noted that “the historic edifice, so long unchanged, was practically
rebuilt. The front adobe wall, which had become damaged by rains, was taken down and reconstructed of brick: some alterations
were made in the tower; and the interesting old tiled roof was replaced—to the intense regret of later and more appreciative
generations—whith modern, less durable shingles.”” Father Raho also aided in the marriage of Thomas Dillingham Mott and Ascension
Sepulveda by calling out to them, in front of the many guest at a christening party, and asking if they wished he would marry
them. Padre Raho, did this knowing that Sepulveda had already turned Mott down once before. Cited from Weber, Msgr. Francis
J., (2001) Encyclopedia of California’s Catholic Heritage 1769-1999. Mission Hill; Spokane: Saint Francis Historical Society,
pg. 751; and Wittenburg, Sister Mary Ste. Therese. (1982) “A California Girlhood: Reminiscences of Ascension Sepulveda y Avila,”
Southern California Quarterly, Vol. 64. Los Angeles: Historical Society of Southern California, pg. 137.

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection consists of some 150 letters from various persons to Francisca Sepulveda de Carrillo (between 1845 and the
1890s), personal correspondence of Thomas Dillingham Mott and family (chiefly Ascension Sepulveda de Mott and Georgia Mott
de Van der Leck). These letters are from such notables as Jose Antonio Carrillo, Antonio Maria de la Guerra, Ignacio Sepulveda,
Alex Godey, Charles Crocker, Stephen White, Andres Pico, William Money, and several other figures. There are also about 225
pieces of business papers and correspondence, including promissory notes, deeds to houses, grocery bills, etc., from the 1840s
and 1850s, as well as Jose Sepulveda's last will and testament. Several of the business papers concern T.D. Mott's enterprises
during the 1870s and 1880s and on through the 19th century. (One letter dated 4/1/1852 refers to cattle sold to pay Hugo
Reid debt.-Box 2, folder 54). A genealogical chart for descendants of Francisco Sepulveda and Ramona Serrano to about 1950.
See also P-96 Sepulveda/Mott Photograph Collection and P-277 Sepulveda Family Photograph Collection